Tennis racket



June 6, l933- J. L. KLEINMAN 1,912,942

TENNIS RACKET Original Filed Sept. 4, 1929 Patented June 6,1933 7 j f Y r UNITED "ST TE PATENT OFFIG'YEI JACOB L. krimmman, ere-11w YORIQN. Y.

3 TENNIS RAcKE'i' emanat on med September 4, 152's, seen 1%. 256384. meweafe iember 19,1932.

This iijVe'IftiOn relates to tefiiiis rackets F 1g. 3 is an enlarged view oi the stririg and more particularly to rackets of the all supporting member, partly broken away. 'justahle type. V Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View of the A primary object of. the inveiitioh is to Bering siipportiiig member taken along the e "5 provide a racket with mea'hs for readily ad'- line 4L4 of F ig. 3. l jhstihg thetension ofthe strings. I 1 A k Fig; 5 is a cross-sectional viewhn the plaI'I' A further object is to provide an adjhstindicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. able racket having certain parts built of ig. 6 is a modified formbfthe ripping metal aiid reinforced with other material surfaeeefthe handle. k j "hich keeps the strings out of Contact with Fig. 7 is a sectional view showiiig the the'ihetal portions. headed or ribbed portioris' of the bottornfof It is alsoahobject ofthe invention to pro the handle and is taken along the line 7 7 vid'e ineahs toreceive the shock and prevent of Fig. '1. I I "Vibratio'ii {of the tensioning device. in. the Referring to the drawing, ihdicate's'the racket when iause; to provide a racket 01 frame, and 6 the handleof the rackehfthe (the open-throat type having means for adfraihe and handle being formed iIl'S GCfi CI I SL; ju'sting the tension "of the strings; to provide as is usual. At the throat or heck portio of i'acket havin g reinforcing means at its meek the racket is a substantially triaiighlar epeal; pb'rtioh also around the fram and ing 7. SlotsS are foi'nied at the inner walls Eb haiiidleflo provide a racket with areinferced of the portiohs of the ii'rame said 5 handle; to provide a racket having a handle neck portion. A bridge 9 having offset 'por with grippin means thereoncomposed of a t ions or tongues is positioned in said fr me hiaterialdiffere'nt from that of the handle, to the offset portions 1 0 being fitted snugly, es d pj'reirentthe thriiiiigof the racket in the hand if desired also: glued, within' the 'slots 8. of the player when hitting a ball; to pm: Holes are drilled through the said neck porf6 Videja radke't havihg the bottom of the handle tionsfo'f the frame and the oeset portiees 10; reinforced with astrolig material having a and rivets or pins ll inserted ihsaid holes; heat and. pleasing finish; and to providefa therebyforminga rigid structure ofth' type T'acketof the adjustable type,that is pracli'r'idwii the 'tradejaslali open-threatracket. '30 tical, useful, durable in iise silnple in 0011- Itis a well knQwh factthat the ihostfilir street-ion, and convenient and economical to portahtcohsideratioh in the design are Becket marmfaefim-e, A is its-weight; .A racli'et niust be as'lightas Other objects aiid advantagesof the presp bslsib le, and the iria ufacturer, in order eiit inventi n Willapp'ear from the descripe meet the demandsfma keshis frahieafsthihas t i'dh thereof to follow taken in connection he can; "the st rehgth ofthe racket Traine is 8 0 the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

with the acompan ing drawing in Which therefore sacrificed for lighthess', chise Fig. I is a front View of a racket embodyq iently tfrequ"ently brehageresu te, Man

ifig present ihve ltioh, partly broken hfacfiurers have therefore tried to glue a away-at the 'bot'torh of the handle and also piece Offiber or rawhide on the side of the at the neck portion to reveal the internal heck p"rtiontostre'ligthen the iflclitQbhttliiS' 55 structure. has proved uhsatisifactory{because it has beeh is a cross sectiofial View showing fetindthat glue does not fem-1 a cmng and the forc'eihent of the frarhe. particular cohtiiihohs b'oh d Between ailidfiher, be

"1y et the 'neck portion, and is taken along ca-nee asthe glue it shrinks away froiii ere Elder and a s ace is left 'betweeh are woe-a 9o and fiber, particularly along the peripheral edge of the frame, such space not only weakening the bond between the wood and fiber, but making the racket unsightly.

In order to overcome this difiiculty and to build a strong racket which is yet as light in weight as is required, I provide slots or openings 12 at the neck portion of the frame. These slots may be extended to any point of the frame, or handle, or all around the frame, if so desired. I then fit a piece of fiber, raw hide, or any other suitable material, tightly into the slot, as indicated at 13 in Fig. 2. I also form grooves 14 in the inner and outer walls of the frame, down to and into the handle to the point indicated at 15, or lower if so desired, and I place in these grooves fiber, raw hide, or any other suitable material as 'indicated at 16. These pieces 16 and 13 respectively are glued and pressed tightly into these slots or grooves by a press or clamp to Wedge the fibre within the grooves. Consequently, when the glue dries, the wood and insert will not come apart, asthe walls of the slots or grooves tightly engage the walls of the inserts. If desired, holes may be drilled and a rivet or pin 17 may be inserted and both ends thereof flattened at 18 to assure against displacement of parts. I desireit to be understood that instead of constructing the racket With an open-throat, as illustrated in the drawing, the racket may be provided with a filler block or element in the opening 7.

Referringto Fig. 1, when the bridge portion 9 is secured to the frame it forms a part of the frame. A slot 19 about deep is provided in said portion 9 and receives a stringsupporting member or tensioning device 20. A hole 21 is formed in the bottom wall of bridge 9 and through such holes passes a rod or bar 22 which is pivotally secured to a lug 23 extending from member 20, by a rivet or pin 24. The remaining partof the rod 22 is received in a chamber 25 within the racket handle, the rod extending below a shoulder 26 and in spaced relation to the wall 27 of an enlarged chamber 28 which forms a continuation of chamber 25.

A handle of a racket generally consists of two sides 29 and 30 which are a continuation of the frame 5 (Fig.5), and two separate pieces 31 and 32 which are usually glued to the sides 29 and 30. I provide a metal portion or plate 33 having teeth 34 by which it is attached to the shoulder 26. WVhen the frame is built and chambers 25 and 28, slot 19 and hole 21 are formed, the rod 22 is put through thehole 21 and chamber 25 and into chamber 28. Plate 33 is then placed into chamber 28, permitting the lower, cylindrical end of rod 22 to pass throughits round hole 35 with which communicates a rectangular slot 36, forming a key-hole slot. The plate 33 is moved upwardly and the rod 22 is shifted to cause its intermediate flattened portion downwardly and away from each other, thus providing a rounded smooth surface for rod 22, which exerts no abrasive action upon the rodduring the latters up and down movements as described hereinbelow.

In order to provide good gripping means at the handle so that the racket will not turn in the hand of the user, I cut or shape away some of the wood atthe bottom of the handle as at 39 to such depth as may be desired, thereby forming a portion of smaller diameter than the rest of the handle. I then put glue on said reduced portion and force tight- 1y over it a tubular form of sleeve 40 made of cork or other suitable material; I then take a cover 41 made of hard material having its walls smoothly finished and force the same tightly on the end of portion 39 so as to cover its edge, the cover reinforcing the bottom of the handle and holding the tubular form in place. I then take an internally threaded tubular element 42 which is preferably closed at one end and embedded in a bakelite cap 43 having a tapered extension 44, arflat surface 45 for engaging the cover 41, a side wall 46, and a hollow cup form 47. The outside of wall 46 as indicated at 48, is of a smooth finish, as shown at 49 (Fig. 7 and is provided with ribs or beads 50, spaced apart from each other, and also a horizontal flange or bead 73. The ribs 50 serve to provide a non-slipping surface when the cap 43 is grasped by the hand and rotated. The insert 42 has grooves 51 and 52 and beads, heads or shoulders 53 and 54, to cause the bakelite or other molding material to interlock with said insert 42, as at 55, thereby forming a rigid unitary structure. As will be seen from Fig. 1, either the under surface of cover 41 or the upper surface of cap 43, or both, are dished, so that the cover and cap engage only at their peripheral portions, so that friction between the parts is greatly reduced. I11 order further to reduce the effort required to rotate cap 43 to adjust the strings (as described below) I make the'extension 44 tapered, so that while its bottom portion snugly engages the inner portion of cover41 it is spaced for the greater part of its length from the internal parts of the handle.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the string supporting member 20 has a metal insert 56 formed with holes 57 and, 58. Insert 56 is also formed with corrugations or grooves 59 imam hioldin'glnaterial, as shos'v n at 63 and 64, thus leavin holes 65 of a desired small dimension for *i'eeeiving the strings. The strings are thus kept out of 'eontact with the sharp edges O'ftheniletifl inserted I lVhenthe racket is all completed and asambled as in Fig. 1 the strings are then Mounted. The horizontal strings 65' "are "mounted in the usual manner, lent the vertical strings 66 which form the playing held in the center of theracket, "are threaded through the holes 65 in the member 20, which is attached to rod 22 Whose eXti'erneend 67 isthfadd to en a e 'theinternal thread or the tubular elementAQ, with the result that, if the racket is held in ane; hand the other hand gri s and turns the cap 43, the "rod 22, Whichis unable to turn on account offitsfflat portion 3? fitting in iec'tahgiila'i slot- '36, is t'henphlled downward-1y by the Ineinbei'AQI. The lneinber is thus also pnlied down- Wardly, thereby tightening the strings in the frame, Byturning portion [48 a-reve'rse direction, the strings will be lessened. M Talso provide means to receive the shock or Vibration of iod22 and member QOdiiriiig play, consisting of a cork portion 68, Fig- 1, attached to th bridges ay a screw '69. The rod 22fitS snugly in the holem oi the purtidn "68; and as the latter is maide of cork (or other resilient material or element), vibration ofthe rod In the hand of a f'as'tplayer quite often the renal; will twist, turn or slide. To prevent this, I provide the tubular portion or sleeve ivi th Vertical dji horizjonta'l ribs or beads 71 (Fig. 6) or 1), similar to the ribs or beads 7.) so that when the player takes hold "of the racket, the palm his hand will engagethe heads and fill thespaces between the beads, so that the-player would then have a firmih'old of the racket and he able-better to control the saine.

Cap 43, Fig. 1, may also be {fitted onto a Jplainracket, i; erone not havi'ngthe string adjusting feature, to take the place of the "erdinary 'lea-tl'ier strip atuthe bottom of the a handle Being made of bakelite, it can be of various colors and designs to provide an ornamentation for the racket, and at the same time forming a reinforcement for the annular endportion,

Bottom "or thehandle, and providin additional gripping means for the hand.

' Annough I have mentioned in describing my invention of what materials certain parts ma be madeyet I desire it to be understood that this racket, or parts thereof, inay be made of any suitablematerial and that various chan es in details ma be resoited to Withoiit departing from the'spiiit of the ini' 'lfiibfihfld I desire "tobe limited only by the state of prior art -1. In a racket, a frame, a handle, a string tensioning device mounted in said frame, shock absorbing means engaging said frame and said tensioning device, and ineans for operating said tensioning device.

, 2. In a racket, a frame, a handle, and a string tensionin-g mechanism, including a rod positioned in "said handle, and operating means comprisinga rotatable elernent at the end of said handle and cooperating With'said red, the lowerend of said rod being threaded and said element being composed of a molded composition and havingemhedded therein a member closed at itslowei' "end and threaded at its upper end to engage with the threaded end of the rod. i r

3. In a racket, fa-me, a handle, and a ening *tens'ioning mechanism, including a rod V positioned insaid handle, operating "means comprising a rotatable element at the end of said handleandcooperating with said rod, an intermediate portion fof said. rod being 4 non-circular, and an insert anchored within said handle and provided with a non-"circular opening to receive the said "intermediate por- ItiOT I-Of the 1'06. tOPTe Veh t rotation Of the latter upon operation of said rotatableelement. 4. The structure asset forthi'n claim 3 Whereinsaid opening isinthe form of a keyholesloa'and means whereby the circular pornon of said slot is closed" afterinsertion of said rod. 5. The structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said handle iscomposed *otlongitudinfal sections at least two or which are provided with internal shohld'ers, said insert "being anchored in said shoulders to hold said sections together. i

6'. In a racket, a frame, a handle, strings stretched Within said frameat Ie'asta portion of the string-"anchoring parts of the racket consisting of metal embedded in a non-metallicplastic body. 1 V 7. In a raeketya framestr'ings vvi "hih said frame, a handle, a metallic strin'g tensioning device positioned with-in said frame, and en"- gaging'certain' ofsaid strings, a "portion of said device covered Witha hard Wear-resisting coating roviding a smooth seating for the strings, and mean's for o erating said device i i *8. In a racket, a frame ahand'lejhav'ihg an e an est-ring tensidni'n'g devicepositioned in sai'dhandle, and operatmg means comprising a rotatable element at the end of said handle and cooperating.

with said device,'s aidend portion and element being formed to bear against each other with line contact only, said line of contact forming a circle.

4 9. In a racket, a frame, ahandle, a metallic string tensioning device positioned in said frame, said device provided with an irregular surface forming a seat for a coating and means for tensioning said device.

,10. Ina racket, a frame having strings stretched across the same, a hollow handle, a string tightening longitudinally movable member disposed in said handle, a'movable hand-grip portion, and means in mortise and tenon connection with said hand-grip portion adapted to engage the said member and effect adjustment of the latteruponmovement of such hand grip section.

11, In a racket, a frame, strings within said frame, ahollow handle having an end section, a longitudinally movable member disposed in, the hollow of said handle and engaging. certain-of said strings, a second member being in screw threaded connection with said first mentioned member, said second member provided with at least one shoulder portion, said second member positioned within a rotatable cup-shaped memher, said rotatable. member connected with said second member by. means cooperating withsaid shoulder, said cup-shaped member engaging said end section thereby closing the hollow ,ofsaid handle.

12. In a racket, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said hand-grip section is composed of a molded composition and wherein-said means is embedded therein. I

13. Ina racket,v as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means comprises a threaded element projecting inwardly of the handle and engaging the threaded end of said member.

14. In a racket, a frame, a hollowv handle, a neck portion, strings supported bysaid frame, a member within said handle, one end of said member engaging certain of said strings, the other end of said member being threaded, a second member,- engaging said threaded portion, said second-member provided withatleast one shoulder portion, said second member fitted within a rotatable member, said rotatable member being connected with said second member by means cooperating with said shoulder, whereby upon the rotation of said rotatable member said second member exerts a pull on said first mentioned member thereby tensioning said-strings.-

15. In a racket, aframe, a hollow handle strings supported by said frame, amember within said handle, one end .of said member engaging certain of said strings, a second memberengaging. the other end of said first mentioned member, said second memberpro- 16..In a racket, a frame, a handle, a neck section, a throat member provided with at least one tongue portion interfitting in a recess in said neck section, a fastening element passing through said neck section andsaid tongue portion transversely to the plane of 1 the face of the racket and extending substantially to the finished surface of the racket so as to be easily accessible for removal.

17. In a racket, a frame, a handle, a neck section, a throat member in mortise and tenon connection with said neck section, and a fastening element passingthrough said mortise and'tenon connection transversely to the plane of the face of the racket and extending substantially to the finished surface of the racketso as to be easily accessible for removal.

18. A racket comprising a handle, a neck portion and a frame, said racket provided with means adapted to receive at least one string, at least a portion of said string receiving means being embedded in a non-metallic plastic body thereby preventing direct contact between said string and said string receiving means.

19. A racket comprising a handle, a neck portion and a frame, a portion of said racket adapted to receive at least one string, a nonmetallic coating composition covering at least a part of said string receiving portion, thereby forming a casing over said part thus preventing direct contact between said string and said part.

20; vA racket comprising a handle, a neck portion and a frame, said racket provided with means to anchor a string, at least a portion ofsaid string anchoring means covered with a plastic coating, said coating forming a shell adapted to prevent direct contact between said string and said means.

21. A racket comprising a frame, a'neck portion, a hollow handle and a string anchoring member, said member adapted to receive at least one string, at least a portion of said string anchoring member positioned within the hollow of said handle, at least a portion of said string anchoring member covered with a coating, said coating forming a shell adapted to prevent direct contact between said string and said anchoring member.

522. A ratchet comprising a handle, a neck portion, a frame and string anchoring member, said member adapted to receive at least one string, at least a portion of said string --a'nchoring member positioned within a recess Cit in the body of said frame,

at least a part of said portion covered with a coating, said coating forming a shell adapted to prevent direct contact between said string and said part of said member.

23. In a racket as set forth in claim 21 wherein said string anchoring member is made of metal and said coating comprises a non-metallic composition. 7

24. In a racket as set forth in claim 22 wherein said string anchoring member is made of metal and said coating comprises a non-meta11ic composition.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JACOB L. KLEIN MAN 

